Seoul must act on forced repatriations
Forced repatriation of North Korean defectors poses a severe risk of a humanitarian catastrophe because they could be executed or die from torture
Forced repatriation of North Korean defectors poses a severe risk of a humanitarian catastrophe because they could be executed or die from torture
While four tunnels have been discovered so far, the South Koreans believe there are many more. The South Korean armed forces still spend a lot of time and energy on finding more infiltration tunnels.
Firefighting authorities on Monday are making last-ditch efforts to contain a wildfire on a mountain in central Seoul, as smoldering fires have not been completely extinguished for over 20 hours.
The artillery fire was reportedly heard from Jangsan Cape in South Hwanghae Province and Kumgang County in Kangwon Province beginning at 2:59 p.m.
Seoul on Wednesday issued an air raid alert after North Korea fired short-range missiles that landed near South Korean waters for the first time.
The city-run public facilities, including museum and library, will stop operation around the clock, while half of public servants and employees in public institutions will be allowed to work from home.
Tongil Sinbo, the North Korean weekly, said: "It is a shameful pro-American act and a reckless scheme to crush its own race with its master.
The number of confirmed cases for the past 17 days reached 4,929 owing to infections in Seoul and its surrounding Gyeonggi province.
Damage in areas near Pyongyang was also reported, it said but did not mention any casualties.
The cases were traced to services at the Sarang Jeil Church in Seoul and also a massive rally held in the capital city on August 15.
